This statement makes me doubt the truth of the original post; "I had to work during the daytime one day, and at night the very next night! All of this with very little warning, just a phone call!" but on the off chance that this person is telling a real story I'd say the railroad dodged a bullet. Thinking that getting 90% on a rules exam is too strict does not bode well for his (potential) future performance. I'd like the railroads to adopt a two-tiered rules exam where 100% is required to pass the vital rules and 90% is enough for the less vital rules. This is already the case for signal rules.

Those of us that have been around for a few decades well remember the 8 hour rest rule, locomotives with barely any heat, cabooses without radios, brakemen with out portable radios, poor dynamic brakes, poor air brakes and far more complicated operating rules. (Timetable and train order operation as opposed to follow-the-traffic-light operation.)

Those that pass the rules and get hired do not generally suffer from an excess of intelligence as it is. Its a good thing that this one got culled.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but my life (and other railroaders as well as the public) depends on this so I take it seriously.